Being called "monkey island" from an economic basket case like Portugal isn't quite as clever as you might wish mon ami. Has the IMF pitched up yet?
Skipness One Echo : Pot ... kettle .... black?
I spend a fair amount of time in Portugal and in most respects it compares more than favourably with the UK. It may not have a great economy but the UK's is not exactly in great shape either.
Service delivery and the infrastructure in Portugal are possibly not as sophisticated as the UK but things work better, people are a damn sight more pleasant and relaxed, there is relatively little crime outside of certain areas which are know to be dodgy, meals in restaurants are good and inexpensive, and generally things work. If I had a free choice between living in GB or Portugal ... it wouldn't be GB!